Improved pole for horse-cars



' T. PENDERGASYT.

Hqrse-Car Pole.

Patented Dec. 29, 1868.

fizz/672507 5mm @athf? sages W Letters Patent No. 85,47 3, dated December 29,1868.

IMPROVED POLE FOR HORSE-CARS.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of the same.

To alt *ichom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, TIMOTHY PENDERGAST, of St. Louis, in the county of St. Louis, and State of Missouri, have made certain new and useful Improvements in Oar-Poles; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and clear description thereof, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

It is well known that street or so-called horsecars, wagons, and similar vehicles, on uneven ground, and in stopping and starting, exert a jar upon the draught-animals, and that animals suffer thereby severely, and this jar is due to the rigid attachments of traces, and whiffle-trees, and car or wagon-pole to the vehicles.

To obviate said effects upon the draught-animals, the nature of my invention is in the use of rubber or similar springs in the ear-pole, and, to retain the full usefulness of said springs, the same are housed and properly protected.

In order that the-weight of the pole shall not be carried in an unduly burdensome manner by the draughtanimal, this invention is in an adjustable rest-fork,

which shall brace against the car or vehicle, and thus support, in greater or less degree, the pole.

To enable those skilled herein to make and use my said invention, I will now describe its construction and operation, referring to Figure 1 as a central sectional elevation, and to Figure 2 as a top plan of the ordinary form of my said pole, as used for street-cars and similar vehicles.

A represents the pole proper, usually of wood.

Bis the lower draught-strap, usually of metal, having the eye I), to connect with the usual draught-bolt of the car or other vehicle.

On the upper edge of the pole, I arrange the guardstrap 0, securing it, by screws or otherwise, to the pole.

Said strap-O passes back, and is deflected to form an offset, 0, and meets the draughtsstr'ap B at the restbolt D, which secures said parts-B and O.

Within the space enclosed by the straps B and O, and at the rear end, I arrange the double-tree E:

This has an eye-plate, e, on its forward edge, through which the hinge-bolt F passes, leaving the double-tree free to turn on said bolt I The bolt F is guided in the slots f of the guard and draught-straps, and by the double-tree fitting between said straps another security against disconnection of I 'said parts is effected.

In Order, now, that the force exerted by draughtanimals, or the resistance of the vehicle, may be flexible, I arrange, on said bolt 11, the piston -rod G.

This passes within the cylinder H, being fitted to prevent any dust or moisture entering at the point h.

On said rod G, I arrange the piston G, which rests against a shoulder of the rod G, as shown in fig. I; and about said piston G, and within the casing-cylinder H, I arrange a rubber or similar cushion, I, the rod G extending back into a slot, 9, of the pole A, and being thus guided.

It will be seen that the horses or other animals, in drawing the double-tree forward, propel the hinge-bolt F and piston G G against the rubber cushion, and

thus avoid any sudden jar, and produce a gradual action of propulsionon the vehicle; and it is furthermore apparent that, by encasing the cushion I in the cylinder H, the same is preserved against ice, or moisture and dust, or other interfering substauceswhich could affect its elasticity. I

In order that the weight of the pole A, and its ;connccted parts as aforesaid, may not bear too heavily upon the draught-animals, I have arranged an adj ustable brace -rest, in the manner following: I

I connect, to the draught-strap B or pole A, the brace-rod K. This passes below the strap '13, and is held by the rest-bolt 1) extending down to it at K. The rear end of the brace K is arranged with a screw nut, 1, into which therest or fork L passes, and is secured. This fork rests against the usual rest-bar on the forward end of a car or wagon,

In order to secure said parts against dust and moist ure, the fork L fits, at its forward end I, nicely in the nutl, and the rear end of the fork L is cut down to-a somewhat smaller diameter at 1 and arranged with a screw-thread fitting the thread of the nut I. In this wise the threaded end 1 is protected, and, at

the same time, the connection of the parts finds a more p perfect guide and support in the fit of the end 1.

Having thus fully described'rny invention,

What I claim, is

1. The pole A, slotted at g, straps B and O, and slots f, double-tree E, hinge-bolt F, rod G, pistonjG, cushion I, enclosing-cylinder H h, when combined andarranged substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The rest-fork L, fitted at l, and having a screwend 1 and combined with nut l of the brace K, sub stantially as and for the purposes set forth.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand,

this 16th day of October, A. D. 1868, in the presence T. PENDERGAST. Witnesses:

Gno. P. HERTHEL, Jr, WM. W. HERTHEL. 

